Pushbroom with support brace

ABSTRACT

A pushbroom uses a broom brace, optimally manufactured as an integral one-piece lightweight molded element. The brace consists of a framework of outer and lower rib members substantially circumscribing the outer surface of the brace and a central rib member. Strengthening web sections are located and extend between the rib members. The brace is secured to the handle and the broom head by threaded connectors or similar attachment devices.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Pushbrooms are effective cleaning tools. The standard pushbroom consistsof a separable elongated handle and a broomhead made up of bristles, arigid bristle supporting base, often made of wood, plastic, light metal,or other hard material, and some interconnection between the broomheadand the handle. Most often, a threaded hole is located on the top sideof the broomhead to allow engagement with the end of the handle whichhas corresponding threads. The handle is easily screwed into thebroomhead to allow use of the pushbroom. Sometimes a broomhead isprovided with two threaded holes, one on one side of the top surface ofthe head and the other on the other side of the top surface of the head,allowing the handle to be switched from one hole to the other, when thebristles become worn in one pushing direction.

While this basic arrangement provides a functional pushbroom, severalinherent problems exist. During the use of the broom, the threadedattachment between the handle and head routinely loosens, resulting inthe need to stop sweeping and tighten or, if the head comes completelyoff, to reattach the handle and head. Additionally, the handle issometimes caused to bend, fail or break near the head while sweeping,especially when the bristles are pushed against heavy material ordebris. An elongated handle attached solely by threaded connection tothe head accounts for broom instability, which increases the requiredsweeping effort and also tends to lead to handle breakage.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is thus the object of the present invention to overcome thelimitations and disadvantages of prior pushbrooms.

It is a general object of the invention to provide a pushbroom with abrace which provides rigidity and stability to the pushbroom, whileensuring for a secure connection between the handle and the broomhead.

It is another object of the invention to provide a pushbroom with abrace which is lightweight and high strength in its design andconstruction, yet provides a secure connection between the handle andthe broomhead.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide apushbroom with a brace which, when a pushing force is applied to thebroomhead, assists in minimizing lateral forces effecting the handle atthe point of attachment of the handle to the broomhead.

These and other objects are accomplished by the present invention, apushbroom using a broom brace, optimally manufactured as an integralone-piece lightweight molded element. The brace consists of a frameworkof outer and lower rib members substantially circumscribing the outersurface of the brace and a central rib member. Strengthening websections are located and extend between the rib members. The brace issecured to the handle and the broom head by threaded connectors orsimilar attachment devices.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic of theinvention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. Theinvention itself, however, both as to its design, construction, and use,together with additional features and advantages thereof, are bestunderstood upon review of the following detailed description withreference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view of the pushbroom with support brace of thepresent invention.

FIG. 2 is a rear view of the pushbroom with support brace of the presentinvention.

FIG. 3 is a top view of the pushbroom with support brace of the presentinvention.

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the pushbroom with support brace of thepresent invention.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the pushbroom with support brace of the presentinvention.

FIG. 6 is an exploded view of the components of the pushbroom withsupport brace of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Pushbroom 1 comprises handle 2 and broomhead 3 with brace 4 and broombristles configuration 5. As best seen in FIG. 4, bristles configuration5 consists of a row of relatively soft front bristles 5 a and soft rearbristles 5 b. Relatively stiff bristles 5 c form the internal section ofbristle configuration S and stiff side bristles 5 d and 5 e cap the endsof the configuration. By this arrangement, soft bristles 5 a and 5 beffectively gather dirt and debris, while being provided more rigidsupport by stiff internal bristles 5 c and stiff side bristles 5 d and 5e.

Broom brace 6 is an integral, unitary one-piece component bodypreferably manufactured of lightweight, high strength moldable plastic.Brace 6 has threaded opening at 8 into which handle 2 is threadablyconnected. Screw 10 ensures for a tight connection between handle 2 andbrace 6.

Brace 6, as shown, is curved in nature, and comprises a framework of ribmembers, including curved outer rib members 12 and 14 which partiallycircumscribe the brace, lower rib member 13, and central rib member 16.Web sections 18 and 20 are located between the rib members. Openings 22and 23 in rib members 12 and 14 allow attachment screws 25 and 26 to beinserted in the openings and secured to the flat upper surface of base 4of broomhead 3. As the bottom surface of brace 6 is substantially flat,it is readily positioned on the upper flat surface of base 4 to allowholes in the upper surface of the base to be aligned with openings 22and 23 for connection by screws 25 and 26.

Brace 6 is configured to be reversible. That is, when bristles 5 areworn from being pushed in one direction, screws in openings 22 and 23can be removed and brace 6 rotated 180° to allow the brace and itsconnected handle 2 to be secured to broomhead 3 from the opposite sideof the broom head. This arrangements ensures that handle 2 continues tobe secured to brace 6 and both sides of bristles 5 can be used, thusprolonging the useful life of the broom.

The ergonomic shape and angle of attachment of brace 6 also makes use ofthe broom easier and more effective. Significantly, brace 6 has a highdegree of strength, adds rigidity, and provides stability to pushbroom 6by means of rib members 12, 13, 14, and 16, with interconnecting webs 18and 20. These components also distribute the pushing forces receivedfrom handle 2 to broomhead 3, while minimizing the lateral forceseffecting the handle at the point of attachment of the handle to thebrace/broomhead. This not only assists in preventing breakage of handle2, but also provides stability to the broom during the sweepingoperation.

Certain novel features and components of this invention are disclosed indetail in order to make the invention clear in at least one formthereof. However, it is to be clearly understood that the invention asdisclosed is not necessarily limited to the exact form and details asdisclosed, since it is apparent that various modifications and changesmay be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

1. A pushbroom having a handle, a broomhead with a base having an uppersurface and broom bristles, and a broom brace, said broom bracecomprising an integral, unitary brace body having a framework of ribmembers comprising lower and central rib members and outer rib members,said body further comprising a plurality of solid, substantially planarweb sections, each web section being enclosed within and extendingbetween the central and lower rib members and one of the outer ribmembers, said brace body further comprising means to receive and retainthe handle and means to secure the brace to the broomhead.
 2. Thepushbroom as in claim 1 wherein the outer rib members of the frameworkare curvilinear.
 3. (canceled)
 4. The pushbroom as in claim 1 whereinthe brace body has a substantially flat bottom surface for placement onthe upper surface of the base of the broomhead.
 5. The pushbroom as inclaim 1 wherein the means to secure the brace the broomhead permits thebrace to be secured in two reversible positions.
 6. The pushbroom as inclaim 1 wherein the brace body is positioned directly on the uppersurface of the base of the broomhead.
 7. The pushbroom as in claim 1wherein the means to receive and retain the handle comprises an openingin the brace body.
 8. The pushbroom as in claim 1 wherein the means tosecure the body to the broom head comprises opening means for theplacement of attachment components between the brace body and the broomhead.
 9. The pushbroom as in claim 1 wherein the brace body is made ofmolded plastic.